This is the time of year that brings joy and gladness to people who like to schuss down frozen water. That’s right, it’s spring ski season, and that means deals and discounts on mountaintop fun. This year should be great because, as you’ve noticed, there’s still tons of white stuff up there. Here are some deals you can grab now.

Like freebies? Southern California Ford dealers are offering their annual “Take a test drive, get a free pass” promotion, while supplies last. You can get a free weekday lift pass to Bear Mountain, June Mountain, Snow Summit or Mammoth Mountain for taking a test drive in a Ford. Call and make sure your local dealer has passes before you trek over there. Don’t try to find out online, that’s the path of madness. Trust me on that one. Just use the phone. Learn more: socalforddealers.com/2017-mammoth-promotion.

This is the time to buy your season passes for the 2017-18 ski season, because everyone’s offering deals and perks.

At Big Bear, for example, if you buy your pass now, you can use it until the end of this year’s season plus all next year, too. A Bear Mountain and Snow Summit anytime pass costs $429 if you purchase before April 4, and includes summer scenic chairlift rides and four bring-a-friend tickets. The same pass for midweek is $269, and there are other permutations for specific resorts, so check them all out here: bigbearmountainresort.com/season-passes

At Park City, Utah, you can buy now and get six buddy tickets, plus six “ski-with-a-friend” tickets. Heavenly in Lake Tahoe is also offering six buddy tickets if you buy before April 9. That’s worth more than $600, my friends.

And, note that if you fork out $859 on an “Epic Pass” now, you not only get the buddy and friend tickets but unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Wilmot, Afton Alps, Mount Brighton, Perisher and Arapahoe Basin. Plus limited skiing at four European resorts. Phew, I’m exhausted just from typing. Learn more: snow.com/epic-pass

Like the quaint vibe of Park City and easy access from the Salt Lake City airport? It’s one of my favorite places. If you book a spring stay by April 16, you can get a $400 or $800 Delta Air Lines gift card to pay for your airfare! Pretty sweet, right? Stay three-five nights and get a $400 voucher; six or more nights, get $800. New reservations only, call 888-226-9667 or go to parkcitymountain.com to learn more.

Epic snowfall in Lake Tahoe means more fun, longer, for you. Go to skilaketahoe.com/deals to find a spring bargain. Northstar California is offering lodging as low as $159 per night through April 23. Check NorthstarCalifornia.com.

Tahoe’s Heavenly won’t be closing until April 30, and you can save on the “Spring Loaded at Heavenly” packages with lodging as low as $95 per person, if you stay three nights.

Live music and entertainment, too. You can also save 25 percent on lift tickets by purchasing online at least seven days before you go – $107 vs. $135. Go to SkiHeavenly.com to learn more.

Mountain High in Wrightwood is offering a cool bring-a-friend deal. For $119, you get an eight-hour lift ticket for one person plus a group lesson, rentals and eight-hour lower mountain lift ticket for someone else. Ages 13 and up. Learn more at mthigh.com.

You may have seen the news that Mammoth Lakes has simply been buried in snow this year, and the resort recently announced that lifts will remain open until the 4th of July! And you can save 25 percent on lodging if you stay at least three nights at Mammoth Mountain Inn, Juniper Springs or The Village Lodge. Make sure you buy your lift tickets at least a week in advance online to save 20 percent. Learn more: mammothmountain.com

Ski.com is offering spring packages at various resorts that offer deals such as your third night free in Park City, 30 percent off lodging in Vail and other deals. Go to ski.com/spring-skiing-packages to see what’s on tap.

And keep in mind that, regardless of season, many resorts let you ski for free on your birthday. Go onto the resort’s website and look for rules and policies.

Enjoy!

Got a good travel tip for me? Or a suggestion? Email me at mfisher@scng.com. I love to hear from readers.

Marla Jo Fisher was a workaholic hard news reporter before she adopted two children from foster care at age 46, picked up a scruffy dog along the way and somehow managed to keep them all alive, at least so far. She now writes the Frumpy Middle-Age Mom humor column that appears in the Orange County Register weekly. Due to her status as the cheapest person alive, she also writes about deals and bargains for the Register, including her Cheapo Travel column which also runs in newspapers around the country. When she's not having a nervous breakdown, she's usually traveling somewhere cheaply and writing about it.

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